BUSAN, South Korea - Diplomats warned on Nov 30 that a majority of countries could walk away from talks on the world’s first plastic pollution agreement if a handful of delegations continue resisting calls to compromise.

Nearly 200 countries are in Busan for negotiations on a deal to curb plastic pollution.

But efforts to reach the landmark agreement are locked over several key sticking points, particularly reducing production and phasing out chemicals believed or known to harm human health.

Over 100 countries back those measures, and insist a treaty without them will fail to solve the pollution crisis.

But around a dozen nations – mostly producers of plastic precursors derived from fossil fuels – are strongly opposed.

As a result, just a day before talks are supposed to end, the draft text remains full of opposing views and contradictory language.

And frustration is growing.

“The overwhelming majority of delegates here demand an ambitious treaty,” said Panama’s delegation head Mr Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez.

“If the reduction of production is not there, there is no treaty.”

“We cannot let a few loud voices derail the process,” he added.

Ready to walk away

A diplomat from the High Ambition Coalition, which groups dozens of countries seeking a strong deal, echoed that sentiment.

“We are a large group uniting around key effective elements, and getting ready to walk away,” he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.

He warned that “some countries” were actively considering calling a vote, which would circ...